CN1139815A

CN1139815A - Electronic source and method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN1139815A
Application number: CN96105470A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 迪安·巴克
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 1995-05-02
Filing date: 1996-04-25
Publication date: 1997-01-08
Also published as: FR2733855B1; TW342518B; US5631518A; FR2733855A1; JPH08306299A; KR960042895A

Abstract

A display (10) includes an electron source having a row conductor (17) that utilizes a plurality of longitudinal elements (26, 28). Each longitudinal element (26, 28) has extraction section (19, 23) that extends from the longitudinal element toward an adjacent longitudinal element. The longitudinal elements (26, 28) are electrically connected by a plurality of transverse connectors (29, 38, 39). When a short occurs between the row (17) and an underlying column (12, 36), the shorted portion can be electrically isolated so that the remainder of the row remains functional.

Description

Electron source and method thereof

The present invention relates to electron emission display, be specifically related to be used for electron emission source a kind of novelty draw grid.

Field emission apparatus (FED) is well known in the art, and generally is used in and comprises image display apparatus in the application of interior broad range.The example of a kind of FED is authorized on August 25th, 1992 in the United States Patent (USP) 5,142,184 of Robert C.Kane and has been provided.FED typically adopts at least two electrodes, such as a cathode conductor and a gate electrode or draw grid.Draw the usually rectangular form of grid and cathode conductor, launch so that utilize the row and column addressing to excite from the electronics of transmitting terminal or emitter.Cathode conductor and draw insulating barrier of gate electrode general using and realize electrical isolation.In the FED forming process, in dielectric layer, form pin hole, and cause electrical short drawing between grid and the cathode conductor.Because this electrical short, force cathode conductor and draw grid to be in identical current potential, whereby, prevent that a row emitter is energized with this row is unlikely.That row emitter of short circuit can not produce image, and therefore, the display unit that is formed by such electrical short has a concealed wire or a lasting bright line usually at the place, place of short circuit row and column.

In view of the above, wishing now has a kind of electron source, and when drawing grid and cathode conductor short circuit, this electron source still keeps playing a role.

Fig. 1 illustrates the amplification profile according to display of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates the local amplification view of the display of Fig. 1 according to the present invention.

The section part that a pixel of the schematically illustrated field-emitter display 10 of Fig. 1 is amplified, it has the electron source of a novelty, and this electron source has again draws grid or column conductor 17.Display 10 contains a plurality of such pixels.Display 10 also contains a substrate 11, forms the other parts of pixel and display 10 on it.Normally a kind of insulation of substrate 11 or semi insulating material for example are silicon or the glass with a dielectric layer.In a preferred embodiment, substrate 11 is a glass.Display 10 also contains a row conductor or negative electrode 12, forms a plurality of field emission emitters on it, such as emitter 13 and 18.Negative electrode 12 is a conductor normally, and can be provided with ballast resistor between negative electrode 12 and

emitter

13 and 18.

Column electrode 17 is arranged on the insulating barrier 16 so that conductor 17 and substrate 11 and negative electrode 12 electric insulations.Can be clear that in next to the discussion of Fig. 2 conductor 17 has a plurality of extensions,, help improving the manufacturability of display 10 such as extension 23 and 19.

Extension

19 and 23 has launch

hole

21 and 14 respectively, and the center in these holes is roughly aimed at

emitter

18 and 13 respectively, runs to the anode 24 that far-end is provided with to allow electronics from

emitter

13 and 18, and forms an image thereon.Usually phosphors coating on facing to the surface of the anode 24 of

emitter

13 and 18 is to provide demonstration when the electronic impact anode 24.

Display 10 comprises a plurality of row usually, and such as column conductor 17, these row intersect with right angle and a plurality of row conductor or negative electrode (such as negative electrode 12).Emitter (such as emitter 13 and 18) forms in the intersection of row and column, to produce the pixel of display 10.Although the pixel portion of representing at Fig. 1 only has two emitters, each pixel of display 10 can have a plurality of emitters, for example,

emitter

13 and 18, this is from hereinafter understanding.In addition, display 10 can comprise a plurality of row conductors, a plurality of row and a plurality of pixel, and each pixel has a plurality of extensions, such as

extension

19 and 23.

Fig. 2 illustrates the amplification view of display 10 parts.The parts that Fig. 2 is identical with Fig. 1 have identical label.Column conductor 17 have a plurality of each other side by side and the axial members of extending along the main shaft 27 of conductor 17.These a plurality of axial members comprise first axial members 26 and the second axis parts 28, and these two axial members are also crossed negative electrode 12 except crossing secondary series conductor or negative electrode 36.The part of conductor 17 of the field emission emitter on

negative electrode

12 and 36 of being added to forms

pixel

32 and 37 respectively.

Pixel

32 and 37 with dashed lines frame tables show.

Axial members

26 and 28 has extension respectively in

pixel

32 and 37, so that draw electronics from following emitter, thereby go up image of formation at anode 24 (Fig. 1).

In a preferred embodiment, first axial members 26 has one first extension 23 in pixel 32, stretches to second axial members 28 from parts 26.Second axial members 28 has one second extension 19 in pixel 32, stretch to first extension 23 from parts 28.

Extension

19 and 23 separates a spacer segment 22, does not electrically contact so that have between extension 19 and 23.In the preferred embodiment, 22 approximately is 2 to 10 microns at interval.Extension 23 has a plurality of launch holes 34, and its function class is similar to fairlead 14.Similarly, extension 19 has a plurality of launch holes 33, and function class is similar to launch hole 21.

Column conductor 17 also has a plurality of horizontal connectors, and they comprise first horizontal connector 29, second horizontal connector 38 and the 3rd horizontal connector, are used to be electrically connected axial members 26 and 28.A plurality of horizontal connectors allow a part of conductor 17 electric insulations, and do not damage the functional of conductor 17.For example, if the part of parts 28 covered cathodes 12 and negative electrode 12 short circuits then for example can removed the short circuit part by the part of

arrow

41 and 42 indications by cutting off parts 28 from parts 28.This works orderly with regard to the remainder that allows parts 28.

Connector

29 and 38 provides an electric pathway around parts 28, this electric pathway and conductor 17 electric insulations whereby, allow conductor 17 its functions of performance.Importantly:

connector

29 and 38 is placed to such an extent that with conductor 12 distance 31 is arranged, to guarantee when cutting off or do not damage during a part of conductor 17 of electric insulation negative electrode 12.In the preferred embodiment, distance 31 is 5 microns at least.

Partly cause pixel 32 to produce one although cut off the short circuit of conductor 17, in a display, can not notice one independent half bright pixel, especially under the situation of the remainder proper function of conductor 17 not as the bright image of neighbor.

As shown in Figure 2, conductor 17 has a horizontal connector for each pixel, yet conductor 17 can be every a pixel or even several pixels across and have a connector.In addition,

extension

19 and 23 can form with other shape.For example,

part

19 and 23 can be in respectively in the part of

axial members

28 and 26,

axial members

28 and 26 cross-over connection negative electrodes 12, rather than outwards protrude from parts 28 and 26.In addition,

extension

19 and 23 can be the finger piece of the interdigitation that stretches out from

axial members

26 and 28.

So far, should be appreciated that, proposed a kind of electron source that can be used for forming the novelty of a display here.Utilize a plurality of axial members to produce delegation, and axial members and a transverse connection are interconnected, can cut off the inoperative part of this row, thereby make this row performance function.Consequently, increase the output and the manufacturability of display, thereby caused reducing the display cost.

Claims

1. electron source is characterized in that:

A row conductor (12), it has a plurality of field emission emitters (13,18); With

A column conductor (17), it crossed row conductor (12) and covered a plurality of field emission emitters (13,18), this column conductor (17) has a plurality of along a main shaft (27) of column conductor (17) a plurality of axial members (26,28) arranged side by side, wherein each axial members (26,28) have one and cover a plurality of field emission emitters (13,18) Yi Bufen extension, and a cross-over connection connector is a plurality of axial members (26,28) electric coupling together.

2. according to the electron source of claim 1, it is characterized in that: each extension (19,23) is separated by an interval.

3. according to the electron source of claim 1, it is characterized in that: cross-over connection connector (29,38) does not cover row conductor (12).

4. according to the electron source of claim 1, it is characterized in that: a plurality of axial members (26,28) comprise first axial members (26) and second axial members (28), first axial members (26) has one and covers a plurality of emission emitters (13,18) first extension (23) of first, second axial members (28) has second extension (19) that covers a plurality of emission emitters (13,18) second portion.

5. according to the electron source of claim 1, it is characterized in that: each extension has launch hole, gets over by launch hole to allow electronics.

6. display unit is characterized in that:

A plurality of row conductors (12);

A plurality of field emission emitters (13,18) on each row conductor (12); With

A plurality of column conductors (17), these column conductors (17) cover a plurality of row conductors (12) and a plurality of row conductors of cross-over connection (12), form a pixel in the intersection, each column conductor (17) has first axial members of arranging along a main shaft, with second axial members (28) arranged side by side with first axial members (26), one in pixel and from first extension (23) of first axial members (26) to second axial members (28) stretching, extension, wherein first extension (23) covers a plurality of emission emitters (13,18) first, one in pixel and from second extension (19) of second axial members (28) to first extension (23) stretching, extension, wherein second extension (19) covers a plurality of emission emitters (13,18) second portion, an interval of separating first extension (23) and second extension (19), with a horizontal connector that stretches to second axial members (28) from first axial members (26), wherein this horizontal connector is not in pixel and do not cover a plurality of row conductors (12).

7. according to the display unit of claim 6, it is characterized in that: said interval approximately is 2 to 10 microns.

8. according to the display unit of claim 6, it is characterized in that: laterally connector is separated by an interval and a row conductor of a plurality of row conductors.

9. one kind in order to form the method for electron source, it is characterized in that:

Form a row conductor with a plurality of emitters (13,18);

Form one and have a plurality of column conductors (17) that cross the conductor bar of row conductor (12); With

Locating with the abundant electric coupling of a plurality of conductor bars together away from row conductor (12), one among a plurality of conductor bars of feasible cut-out can not damaged row (12) conductor, can also keep the electric coupling between a plurality of conductor bars simultaneously.

10. according to the method for claim 9, it is characterized in that: locate away from row conductor (12) with a plurality of conductor bars fully electric coupling comprise a plurality of conductors (12) bar and a plurality of horizontal conductor that between a plurality of conductor bars, stretches (29,38,39) bar carries out electric coupling.